Corruption in Spain coupled with the possible return of former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi to the top job in Rome have unsettled European sovereign debt markets.
With Mahathir and Abdullah having wrapped up UMNO's top two slots, which give them the PM and deputy PM posts, what happened to all the talk about reform?
Lords reform is the most controversial measure in a slimmed down programme but the PM said boosting growth and cutting the deficit were his top priorities.
The DUP's Ian Paisley said the PM's attendance would give the "necessary panache, the necessary proof" that the environment was top of the government's agenda.